Rough Bounds of Knoydart

Land entrances to the Knoydart peninsula are guarded by rugged mountains and long glens.
This area is affectionately known as The Rough Bounds of Knoydart and comprises many hills surrounding Glen Dessarry, Glen Kingie and Loch Quoich (now correctly named Loch Cuaich on newer maps).

Sgurr na Ciche is the highest peak in the range and views from its summit are superb, with fantastic seaward panoramas over Eigg, Rhum, Skye and beyond to be enjoyed on clear days.

Main route summary

Sgurr na Ciche is a rough pyramid, whereas Garbh Choich Mor and its minor tops are tamed by a long parish wall, which aids navigation when the mist is down.
Well defined paths and stalkers tracks flow along the crests of Sgurr nan Coireachan, Sgurr Mor, Sgurr an Fhuarain and Gairich.

The 'Main route' which follows crests around Loch Quoich, can unveil some of the area's pre-dammed history if the level is low.
The route starts from the Quoich dam and takes in the summits in a clockwise direction, presenting fine views ahead while progress is made heading westwards over the peaks.

There are other interesting hills in the area, all worthy of a visit.
Ben Aden is a rough Corbett, requiring a long walk just to reach the base.
Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoidh, Fraoch Bheinn and Sgurr Mhurlagain are more tame and can easily be combined with some of the nearby Munros or bagged individually from Loch Arkaig.

Head west along the A87 from Invergarry for 8km, then take the unclassified narrow road marked to Kinlochourn.

18km along this road is Loch Quoich and its dam, with parking for a handful of cars.

Gairich

Head through a gate (now unlocked) to access the dam.

Cross the dam then head along a path heading south initially by the loch, then veering away from the shoreline.
This path, though well defined and probably a stalker's track in its day, is mucky and wet over much of it's length to the drop down to the forest.

At the forest, cross the junction and head up some peat-bog and wet grass to join the fine stalkers path that heads westwards up Gairich's long east arm.
Continue for 3km along this path, which becomes fainter, to the base of Gairich's steep 300m climb.

The path appears to head around the hill, don't follow it, instead head directly uphill.
Higher up the path is met again and followed to the cairn on the summit.
Gairich is a fine vantage point, with Sgurr na Ciche appearing very distant.

Sgurr an Fhuarain

Leave Gairich's summit and head south-west-west over easy ground.

An interesting little gap around the coire is discovered (barely distinguisable on the OS 1:50000 map).
Head around this and then directly south-west-west to the flat area on Gairich Beag.
Cross this and over a slight rise to pick up a good stalker's path that zig-zags down to meet up with a track crossing A'Mhaingir.

A faint old stalker's path is met, follow this south-west-south for a bit, then leave it and strike up very steep grassy ground up onto the eastern arm of Sgurr an Fhuarain.
Pathless grass covered ground is ascended up the last 200m to the conical trig point on the summit.
Though only a few metres lower than Gairich, at 909m, this peak is a 'mere' Corbett !

Sgurr Mor

Sgurr Mor appears suprisingly close when viewed from Sgurr an Fhuarain's summit, however this is deceiving !

Head west from Sgurr an Fhuarain along a faint path over pleasant grass covered ground, taking in the views ahead.

Reach the bealach below, then start heading up Sgurr Mor.
The path continues, but narrows and zig-zags a bit as the terrain is just that bit tougher than what's been before on the route - an indicator of things to come !
Further up the ground gets a bit rockier, but the path picks the easiest route.

A large untidy pile of stones and boulders on the summit makes up the cairn, which provides just enough shelter out of any wind.
There are excellent views to be had towards the route's 3 remaining Munro peaks and beyond.

Sgurr nan Coireachan

From Sgurr Mor head downhill and southwards on a well defined stalker's path.
This path continues down to the bealach then up Sgurr Beag, becoming faint as it approaches this summit.

Continuing south-west down Sgurr Beag, the path becomes obvious again, so follow it to the col before An Eag.

A fainter path continues over grass up An Eag, and at this the summit of this minor top, pick up a line of fence posts heading west.
There's a drop of only 80m or so before the next col is reached.

Hike up grassy ground and the occasional slab, following fence-posts to reach the summit crest of Sgurr nan Coireachan.
Turn south-west and follow a path and posts to the summit, where there's a small untidy cairn to sit and awe at the view ahead to Garbh Chioch Mor, Sgurr na Ciche, Knoydart and Skye's Black Cuillin.

Garbh Chioch Mor

Follow fence posts west, downhill on a twisty worn path, dropping around 200m.
As the rate of descent easies, the ground starts to become quite sodden.

Reach the bealach below, cross it on a faint path under some slabs and follow a more obvious path that hugs a wall that takes over from the fence-posts.
This wall continues all the way up and along Garbh Chioch Beag to Garbh Chioch Mhor.

The crests can be quite narrow in some parts with some light scrambling required to move over the occasional rock outcrops.

There are some good photo oportunities on the way to the summit - get a mate to pose on top of one of the cliffs !
Two cairns rest on the top, the summit is indicated by the western one.

Sgurr na Ciche

The path continues to follow the wall along the crest westwards, though occasional scrambling on grippy rock is encountered.

The wall turns north-west-north and heads down to the bealach below Sgurr na Ciche, meeting with a couple of small lochans on the way.

At the bealach, leave the wall and head on an obvious path uphill following a small watercourse.

Some boulders are reached and in mist it may not be obvious which way to continue - look right (north) and you should be able to pick out a route heading uphill.
As the boulders are left behind, the path becomes obvious again, follow this up a small cairn on Sgurr na Ciche's eastern arm.

Now on the crest, turn left (west) and follow the path for a couple of minutes to reach the summit.
This is a fantastic vantage point looking down Loch Nevis out to Eigg, Rhum and Skye.
If you've got the weather, spend some time here taking in the vista.

Return

Retrace your steps back to the small cairn on Sgurr na Ciche's eastern crest, but instead of returning to bealach, continue east along the crest on pathless ground for 250m.
Turn north-east and drop 150m.
The route is straightforward, but occasional slight detours are need to avoid rock sections.

The route then continues north-east over a rise, from where drop a further 250m north-east, picking a route carefully over grass avoiding rocky outcrops.
Follow a burn down to the glen and pick up a stalker's track heading north-east.

Follow this track north-east then north to the western end of Loch Quoich where two dams are crossed.
This is a good camping area if you're backpacking into Knoydart, even better if you've kayaked along the loch.

From these dams an excellent track continues along the northern shore.
This track was built to enable the construction of the dams in the late 1950's, therefore it shouldn't come as a surprise that after 4km, the track heads straight into the loch.
Surprise no, but disappointment yes !
Having merrily walked or jogged along the track, being faced with a faint, wet path for the last few km back to the road is slightly disheartening.

The Abhainn Chosaidh is met and needs crossed - this can be difficult if in spate.

Further on, if the loch level is low, don't be tempted to head for the remains of the old bridge, as man-eating bog awaits !
Instead, turn northwards and re-join the road at the north-western end of the loch.

On the road, hopefully you've left a bike for the 10km+ back to the dam, as there's not much chance of hitching a lift around here.

Having parked at the end of the public road on Loch Arkaig, head along the track on foot or bike for 1km to a junction.
Turn right and head into Glendessary.
It is possible to cycle as far as Upper Glendessary, from where a sign marks the start of the path around the back a house.

After the initial marshy start on this, the path continues up the glen around the base of Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoidh to reach the Allt Coire nan Uth.

The Allt Coire nan Uth can be slightly difficult to cross in spate, however if you follow the river down to the forest, there used to be a bridge hidden in the trees - it might still be there !
(You'll get to this burn more or less directly from Strathan if you cycle on the south side of the River Dessary via A'Chuill bothy, but the views aren't so good with the track stuck in forest for most of the way)

A bit further on there is another burn to cross, but this should be easy enough.
Continue up the path to the end of the forest.

1km further on, an obvious bulldozed path can be seen heading uphill.
Aim for this, then follow a burn to c610m before levelling out just below the rocky outcrops on Garbh Chioch Mhor's south-west side.

Follow a faint path into the gorge and continue up in this gorge to the bealach between Sgurr na Ciche and Garbh Chioch Mor.
Reach Sgurr na Ciche via a path and some boulderfield and return to the bealach.
Continue along the ridge over Garbh Chioch Mhor, Sgurr nan Coireachan to Sgurr Mor as described in the reverse of the "Main route".

Drop to the col before Sgurr an Fhuarain, and aim directly down into Glen Kingie.
Head back over grass and tussocky ground to pick up a track to follow down to Glendessary Lodge then return back along the main track and road to Loch Arkaig.

Including Sgurr an Fhuarain and Fraoch Bheinn from Strathan

The above route can be extended to take in two Corbett peaks

Follow the above route to Sgurr Mor, then continue to Sgurr Fhuaran as described in reverse in the "Main route".

From Sgurr an Fhuarain's summit strike south downhill on steep grassy ground to Glen Kingie.

Cross the River Kingie near the bothy at Kinbreak, then head up and over Fraoch Bheinn via its north-eastern shoulder - a steep trudge mainly on grass without diffiuclties.

Descend using the southern shoulder, picking up a wet ATV track by the Dearg Allt to return to Strathan.

The above route does leave a long return journey over tiresome ground from Gairich at the end of the day, so if doing this route it might be better to climb Gairich separately another day (see the Quoich Munros page for more details).

This route takes in Sgurr na Ciche, Garbh Choich Mhor and Sgurr nan Coireachan, then adds in the intriguing ridge of Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoigh before returning.
So Sgurr Mor would have to be left for another day !

Park at the end of the public road on Loch Arkaig, head along the track on foot for 1km to a junction.
Turn right and head into Glendessary.

At Upper Glendessary a sign marks the start of the path around the back of a house.
After the initial marshy, the path continues up the glen around the base of Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoidh to reach the Allt Coire nan Uth.

Cross this burn, then a bit further on there cross another.
Continue up the path to the end of the forest.
1km further on, an obvious bulldozed path can be seen heading uphill.

Aim for this, then follow a burn to c610m just below rocky outcrops on Garbh Chioch Mhor's south-west side.

Follow a faint path into a gorge and continue up in this to the bealach between Sgurr na Ciche and Garbh Chioch Mor.
Reach Sgurr na Ciche via a path and some boulderfield.

Return to the bealach, then continue along the ridge over Garbh Chioch Mhor to Sgurr nan Coireachan as described in the reverse of the "Main route".
From Sgurr nan Coireachan aim north-east following fence-post, then down eastwards between boulders and crag to trudge up grassy ground to An Eag.
Southwards, head to Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoigh following a line of fence-posts and wall.

Investigate the strange obolisk halfway along the ridge to Druim a Chuirn - though it's a bit disappointing up close - then head down to Glendessary Lodge (either direct or over Druim a'Chuirn) and back to Loch Arkaig.

Ben Aden
This remote and rugged little hill sits at Loch Quoich's western end. It's a long trek to get to the summit and well honed navigation skills will be needed in misty conditions!

Ascent

1000m (3,275ft) from Sourlies
1200m (3,950ft) from Loch Quoich

Distance

16km (10m) from Sourlies
25km (16m) from Loch Quoich

Time

walk : 6hr / 8:15hr

Terrain

easy

difficult

Nav

easy

testing

Effort

stroll

long day

Scenery

ok

stunning

Ben Aden from Loch Quoich

Start from the passing place at the most westerly point on the road on Loch Quoich (NG985036) and follow the "Main route" in reserve to the dams at Loch Quoich's western end.

At the first dam, descend to Lochan na Cruadhach then pick up the Allt Coire na Cruaiche.
On grassy ground follow this burn up to the small bealach between Ben Aden's summit and the knoll indicated by the 717m spot height.
Navigation will be tricky in mist from here on !

Pick up a faint stream coming down from Ben Aden's summit through a re-entrant and follow as far as possible.
The stream disappears, from where it's a clamber up to the summit, approaching the crest from the south.
A small cairn sits on the summit.

Return by the same route, or continue up to Sgurr na Ciche from Meall a'Choire Dhuibh, east of the 717m spot height (see "Main route").

Ben Aden from Sourlies

Reach Sourlies Bothy (from the western end of Loch Arkaig after a 15km along a well defined path), then head along Loch Nevis's north shore to meet up with the River Carnach.
Pick up ATV tracks to reach the Allt Achadh a'Ghlinne and follow this uphill.
Several narrow gorges with waterfalls can be avoided by keeping to the southern bank of the burn.

At around the 550m contour terrain can be confusing in mist, but climb and reach the lochans east of the 717m knoll.
Over the knoll and gain Ben Aden's summit as described above.

Our next guided event on the mountains of the Rough Bounds of Knoydart will be over 3 days on 5-7 August.
More information on the event is here.

Alternatively, if you would like a bespoke day or more hiking over these peaks, we would be delighted to organise something for you and your group.
Check out our Bespoke Guiding page for more information.